Close to home: Walking on Waiheke

The Waiheke Walking Festival is a great way to explore the island. Photo / Supplied

With 40 guided walks, the Waiheke Walking Festival is a great way to explore the island. There are short walks, long walks, easy walks and hard walks. A feature is the Great Waiheke Treasure Quest, where you follow clues and solve puzzles. October 29 to November 6.

Contact: (09) 372 4459

Hit the trail

Entries are open for the Tour of New Zealand, a multi-stage cycle race from April 14-21, which incorporates the great rides of Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail. The amateur event is designed for cyclists of all levels. Participants will ride the length of either the North or South Island, meeting in Wellington for a 1.5km blast that ends on the steps of Parliament.

Show-stoppers

The Royal New Zealand Show will be held at Hamilton's revamped Claudelands Events Centre from October 28-30. It includes livestock competitions, equestrian events, sheepdog trials, kids' entertainment and much more. The show also encompasses Feast Waikato, which features food and beverage producers. Open 9am to 4pm, adults $12, children $5, family $25.

Touch of France

Akaroa celebrates its French connection with the flamboyant Piper Heidsieck French Fest, from October 28-30. Highlights include a lively street party complete with fire dancers and an Eiffel Tower made of ice, a theatrical re-enactment of the 1840 French landing, a day-long festival that embraces music, food, and lighthearted competitions, and the glamorous Comte de Paris Bal.

Dig this

Hunter's Garden Marlborough runs from November 3-6. A diverse range of garden tours are on offer, covering small urban gardens to country estates. Other events include workshops and presentations, plus a garden fete.